English-Greek actor Michael Angelis died on Saturday, 30th May in Berkshire. He was 76 years old.
Michael was the narrator of the classic children’s series, ‘Thomas The Tank Engine’ from 1991 to 2012 and had a lengthy television career, which included the powerful 1980s drama ‘Boys from the Blackstuff’.
The actor was born Nicolas Michael Angelis on 29th April 1944 in London to Margaret (née McCulla), and Greek father, Evangelos Angelis. He was raised in Dingle, Liverpool.
He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, where he played roles in several pieces of work, including Brendan Behan’s ‘The Hostage’ and ‘The Zykovs’ by Maxim Gorky.
Angelis also appeared in comedies such as ‘The Liver Birds’ between 1975 and 1978 and Luv 1993–94, as well as films such as ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ (1979) and ‘No Surrender’ (1985).
In 1983, he appeared at the Royal Exchange in Manchester in Harold Pinter’s ‘The Caretaker’ and played a villain in the revived television series ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’ in 2002.
The much-loved actor narrated John Peel’s autobiography, ‘Margrave of the Marshes’ and in 2006 he starred in the film ‘Fated’.
Angelis also appeared in episodes of ‘Midsomer Murders’ and ‘The Bill’.
He was married to Coronation Street actress Helen Worth in 1991 and after their divorce in 2001, he married Welsh model Jennifer Khalastchi, in 2003.
He was the younger brother of fellow actor Paul Angelis who died in 2009.
LGR express their condolences to Michael’s family and friends.
